Name: Class: The Transformation of Arachne into a Spider By Ovid From Metamorphoses (Book Vi) 8 A.D. Ovid (43 B.C.-17 A.D.) was a Roman poet well-known for his elaborate prose and fantastical imagery. Ovid was similar to his literary contemporary, Virgil, in that both authors played a part in reinventing classical poetry and mythology for Roman culture. Metamorphoses, one of Ovid’s most-read works, consists of a series of short stories and epic poems whose mythological characters undergo transformation in some way or another. As you read, take notes on Ovid’s choice of figurative language and imagery. [1] Pallas,1 attending to the Muse's2 song, Approv'd the just resentment of their wrong; And thus reflects: While tamely3 I commend Those who their injur'd deities4 defend, [5] My own divinity affronted stands, And calls aloud for justice at my hands; Then takes the hint, asham'd to lag behind, And on Arachne' bends her vengeful mind; One at the loom5 so excellently skill'd, [10] That to the Goddess6 she refus'd to yield. Low was her birth, and small her native town, She from her art alone obtain'd renown. Idmon, her father, made it his employ, "Linen Weaving" is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0. To give the spungy fleece7 a purple dye: [15] Of vulgar strain her mother, lately dead, With her own rank had been content to wed; Yet she their daughter, tho' her time was spent In a small hamlet,8 and of mean descent, Thro' the great towns of Lydia gain'd a name, [20] And fill'd the neighb'ring countries with her fame. 1. Pallas is another name for Minerva (Athena) the goddess of wisdom and the arts (such as weaving). 2. The Muses are the three goddesses of poetic inspiration. 3. Tamely (adverb): calmly 4. Deity (noun): god or goddess 5. An instrument used for weaving 6. The Goddess refers to Minerva, also known as the Roman goddess Athena. 7. A sheep’s skin 8. A town 1 Oft,9 to admire the niceness of her skill, The Nymphs10 would quit their fountain, shade, or hill: Thither, from green Tymolus,11 they repair, And leave the vineyards, their peculiar care; [25] Thither, from fam'd Pactolus' golden stream,12 Drawn by her art, the curious Naiads13 came. Nor would the work, when finish'd, please so much, As, while she wrought, to view each graceful touch; Whether the shapeless wool in balls she wound, [30] Or with quick motion turn'd the spindle round, Or with her pencil drew the neat design, Pallas her mistress shone in every line. This the proud maid with scornful air denies, And ev'n the Goddess at her work defies; [35] Disowns her heav'nly mistress ev'ry hour, Nor asks her aid, nor deprecates14 her pow'r. Let us, she cries, but to a tryal15 come, And, if she conquers, let her fix my doom. The Goddess then a beldame's16 form put on, [40] With silver hairs her hoary17 temples shone; Prop'd by a staff, she hobbles in her walk, And tott'ring thus begins her old wives' talk. Young maid attend, nor stubbornly despise The admonitions of the old, and wise; [45] For age, tho' scorn'd, a ripe experience bears, That golden fruit, unknown to blooming years: Still may remotest fame your labours crown, And mortals your superior genius own; But to the Goddess yield, and humbly meek [50] A pardon for your bold presumption seek; The Goddess will forgive. At this the maid, With passion fir'd, her gliding shuttle stay'd; And, darting vengeance with an angry look, To Pallas in disguise thus fiercely spoke. 9. Often 10. Nymphs are mythological woodland fairies. 11. Tymolus refers to a certain mountain. 12. According to myth, Midas rid himself of his golden touch in the Pactolus river. 13. Naiads are mythological water fairies. 14. Deprecate (verb): to belittle, slight; in this context, to show humility 15. A trial or challenge 16. Old woman 17. Old and grey 2 [55] Thou doating18 thing, whose idle babling tongue But too well shews19 the plague of living long; Hence, and reprove, with this your sage20 advice, Your giddy daughter, or your awkward niece; Know, I despise your counsel, and am still [60] A woman, ever wedded to my will; And, if your skilful Goddess better knows, Let her accept the tryal I propose. She does, impatient Pallas strait replies, And, cloath'd with heavenly light, sprung from her odd disguise. [65] The Nymphs, and virgins of the plain adore The awful21 Goddess, and confess her pow'r; The maid alone stood unappall'd; yet show'd A transient22 blush, that for a moment glow'd, Then disappear'd; as purple streaks adorn [70] The opening beauties of the rosy morn; Till Phoebus23 rising prevalently bright, Allays the tincture24 with his silver light. Yet she persists, and obstinately25 great, In hopes of conquest hurries on her fate. [75] The Goddess now the challenge waves no more, Nor, kindly good, advises as before. Strait to their posts appointed both repair, And fix their threaded looms with equal care: Around the solid beam the web is ty'd, [80] While hollow canes the parting warp divide;26 Thro' which with nimble flight the shuttles play, And for the woof prepare a ready way; The woof and warp unite, press'd by the toothy slay. 18. Senile 19. Shows 20. Sage (adjective): wise; used sarcastically in this case 21. Awful (adjective): (archaic) inspiring awe 22. Transient (adjective): momentary or brief 23. Phoebus is another name for the sun god (Apollo in Greek mythology). It is also a term used to refer literally to the sun. 24. Tinge of color 25. Obstinately (adverb): stubbornly 26. Warp, shuttles, woof, and slay are terms used in weaving; parts of the loom. 3 Thus both, their mantles button'd to their breast, [85] Their skilful fingers ply with willing haste, And work with pleasure; while they chear27 the eye With glowing purple of the Tyrian dye: Or, justly intermixing shades with light, Their colourings insensibly unite. [90] As when a show'r transpierc'd28 with sunny rays, Its mighty arch along the heav'n displays; From whence a thousand diff'rent colours rise, Whose fine transition cheats the clearest eyes; So like the intermingled shading seems, [95] And only differs in the last extremes. Then threads of gold both artfully dispose, And, as each part in just proportion rose, Some antique fable in their work disclose. Pallas in figures wrought the heav'nly Pow'rs, [100] And Mars's29 hill among th' Athenian tow'rs. On lofty thrones twice six celestials30 sate, Jove31 in the midst, and held their warm debate; The subject weighty, and well-known to fame, From whom the city shou'd receive its name. [105] Each God by proper features was exprest, Jove with majestick mein32 excell'd the rest. His three-fork'd mace the dewy sea-God shook, And, looking sternly, smote the ragged rock; When from the stone leapt forth a spritely steed, [110] And Neptune33 claims the city for the deed. Herself she blazons, with a glitt'ring spear, And crested helm that veil'd her braided hair, With shield, and scaly breast-plate, implements of war. Struck with her pointed launce,34 the teeming Earth [115] Seem'd to produce a new surprizing birth; When, from the glebe,35 the pledge of conquest sprung, A tree pale-green with fairest olives hung. 27. Cheer 28. Penetrated 29. Mars is the god of war, also known as the Greek god Ares. 30. Gods 31. Jove is the mythological god of thunder and king of the gods; Roman name for Zeus. 32. Mein (noun): the outward manifestation of personality or attitude 33. Neptune is the mythological god of the sea, also known as Poseidon in Greek mythology. 34. A lance: a long weapon for thrusting with a wooden shaft and a pointed steel head 35. A “glebe” is a plot of land. 4 And then, to let her giddy rival learn What just rewards such boldness was to earn, [120] Four tryals at each corner had their part, Design'd in miniature, and touch'd with art. Haemus in one, and Rodope of Thrace Transform'd to mountains,36 fill'd the foremost place; Who claim'd the titles of the Gods above, [125] And vainly us'd the epithets37 of Jove. Another shew'd, where the Pigmaean dame,38 Profaning Juno's venerable name, Turn'd to an airy crane, descends from far, And with her Pigmy subjects wages war. [130] In a third part, the rage of Heav'n's great queen, Display'd on proud Antigone,39 was seen: Who with presumptuous boldness dar'd to vye, For beauty with the empress of the sky. Ah! what avails her ancient princely race, [135] Her sire a king, and Troy her native place: Now, to a noisy stork transform'd, she flies, And with her whiten'd pinions cleaves the skies. And in the last remaining part was drawn Poor Cinyras40 that seem'd to weep in stone; [140] Clasping the temple steps, he sadly mourn'd His lovely daughters, now to marble turn'd. With her own tree the finish'd piece is crown'd, And wreaths of peaceful olive all the work surround. 36. In Greek mythology, King Haemus of Thrace compared himself and his wife Rhodope to Zeus and Hera (Jove and Juno).